Evaporator for refrigerators



Jan. 3, 1933; c. c. SPREEN 1,893,341

EVAPORATOR FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed May 17. 1929 v 2 Sheets=5heet l W m lulm INVENTOR. 69/921156. afeezz/v ATTORNEY.

Jan. 3, 1933. c. c. SPREEN 1,893,341

EVAPORATOR FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed May 17. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwmw 1,

BY Q M/W A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES C. SPRE'EIN', OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KELVIITATOR GORPORA- I TION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN EVAPORATOR FOR REFRIGERATORS Application filed May 17,

The invention relates to domestic refrigeration apparatus and has particular relation to evaporating, units embodied in such apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an eflicient evaporating unit for domestic refrigeration service which shall be especially applicable for the dual purpose of freezlng substances in a relatively short time, and for cooling the interior of refrigeration cabinets to a predetermined average temperature.

Another object of the inventlon 1s to provide a refrigerant evaporating unit embodying elements capable of manufacture and assembly at a relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention Wlll be apparent from the foregoing and from the following description.

For a better understanding of the mvention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a refrigerator provided with an evap orating unit embodying one form which the invention may assume;

Figure 2 is a front elevational v1ew of the evaporatin unit illustrated by Figure 1 as it appears be ind the circulation bafile embodied in that structure;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the brine tank embodied in the structure illustrated by Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical crosssectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is avertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a refrigerator cabinet, designated by the numeral 10, is provided with a door 11 through which access to the interior of the cabinet may be had.

A liquid line 12 communicating with the high side of any suitable refrigerant condensing unit (not shown) is connected by a coupling 13 with a refrigerant expansionvalve 14 of any suitable character.

A flange portion 16 (Figure 2), of the expansion valve 14, is connected by bolts 17 1929. Serial no. 363,727.

(Figure 1) to a flange portion 18 (Figure 2) i jacent the upper end of a vertically disposed opening 24 (Figure 4) by which it is connected with a parallel opening 26 formed in the coupling directly beneath the opening 23. One end of a horizontally disposed and helically wound evaporating conduit section 27 (Figs. 1,2 and 4) is secured in the open-' ing 26, while the opposite end of such evaporating conduit section terminates in a vertically disposedcoil 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) in which a thermostat (not shown) is adapted to be disposed. A coupling 29 connects the opposite end of the coil 28 with a suction line 31 (Fig. 1) communicating with the low side of the refrigerant condensing unit hereinbefore referred to.

The convolutions of the evaporating conduit section 27 increase indepth progressively from the front of the refrigerator cabinet to the end of the section. Refrigerant fluid discharged by the expansion valve 14into the evaporating conduit section 22, is, in turn, discharged therefrom through the openings 23, 24 and 26 into the evaporating conduit section-27. From thence such fluid passed through the coil 28, where the operation of the thermostat is effected, and is exhausted by the suction line 31 g The coupling 19 is provided on its upper surface with a projection 32 (Fig. 4) in which a vertically disposed opening 33 (Fig. 4) is formed. A threaded plug 36 is employed for the purpose of providing a fluid tight closure member for the opening 33. One end of an opening 37, formed in the coupling 19 between the openings 21 and 23, terminates at the lower end of the opening 33, while the opposite end thereof communicates with the interior of a brine tank 38.

The coupling 19 is secured to a portion of the brine tank 38 projecting a short distance Within a notch 39 extending into the coupling across the ends of the openings 21, 23 and 37.

The removal of the plug 36 will permit the tank 38 to be filled with liquid through the openings 33 and 37 respectively.

,The tank 38 (Figs. 4 and 5) comprises a shallow rectangularly formed vessel 41, the upper edges of which are provided with outwardly projecting and horizontally disposed flanges 42. These flanges are soldered or.

otherwise secured in fluid tight relation to bottom portions of a horizontally disposed freezing tray receiving sleeve 43, which, with the brine tank 38, projects longitudinally through the convolutions of the evaporating conduit section 22.

The freezing tray receiving sleeve 43 (Fig. 5) is constructed of a single sheet of metal having its registering edges folded to procabinet.

vide a seam as indicated at 44.

The entire evaporating unit 46, thus formed, is secured by a plurality of brackets 47 (Figs. 1 and 2), connected at their lower ends to side portions of the sleeve 43, and at their upper ends by bolts 48 to the upper wall of the refrigerator cabinet 10.

A circulation baffle 49, provided with an opening 51 through which-freezing trays 52 and 53 are inserted in the sleeve 43, is secured to the sides of the cabinet 10 in front of and beneath the evaporating unit 46. The bafile 49 terminates, as indicated at 54, at the front of the unit 46, in spaced relation to the upper wall of the cabinet 10, while therebeneath, it likewise terminates, as indicated at 56, in spaced relation to the rear wall of the A portion of the baffle 49 beneath the evaporating unit 46 may be inclined away from the unit towards the rear of the cabinet.

Warm air in the interior of the cabinet 10 is propelled upwardly against the lower inclined surfaceof the baffle 49 into the space between the baflie and the door 11 and thence over the upper end portion of such bafile into the region occupied by the evaporating unit 46. Since the convolutions of the evaporating conduit section 27 increase in depth progressively in the path of the warm air entering this region of the cabinet, the cooling or refrigerating effect of such conduit section will be effective throughout the relatively large portion of the path of the moving current of air.

When the freezing trays 52 and 53, filled with any fluid substance desired to be frozen, are inserted within the sleeve 43, the substance will be quickly frozen by reason of the provision especially for this purpose of the separate evaporating conduit section 22. Heat from the substance in the trays is transmitted through the bottom of the sleeve to the brine in the tank 38 where it is retained until such time as it can be absorbed by the evaporating conduit section 22.

While a brine solution, surrounding the freezing evaporating conduit section 22, is employed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention for the purpose of serving in a heat retaining or hold over capacity, the employment of this substance is not in any way essential to the attainment of the objects of this invention. Instead of such solution, if

desired, the freezing evaporating conduit section 22 may be cast in a metallic block of iron, aluminum, brass, copper or bituminous or ceramic materials.

Likewise, it is not essential to provide for the evaporation of the refrigerant liquid Within conduits such as illustrated herein. Instead of such conduits hollow cast metal or sheet metal vessels may be employed advantageously.

Although the specification discloses only the preferred form of this invention, and describes in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerant evaporating unit comprising a metallic freezing tray sleeve, an open top brine tank secured to the bottom of said sleeve, and an evaporating conduit encircling said sleeve and brine tank.

2. A refrigerant evaporating unit comprising a metallic freezing tray sleeve, an open top brine tank secured to the bottom of said sleeve, an evaporating conduit disposed in said brine tank, and a second evaporating conduit encircling the sleeve and brine tank.

3. A refrigerant evaporating unit comprising a brine tank, a refrigerant coil disposed within the brine tank, a refrigerant coil positioned exteriorly of the brine tank, and a coupling secured to the brine tank for connecting the pair of coils in series, said coupling having a passageway for the admission of refrigerant to the coil in the brine tank and a passageway for the introduction of brine into the tank. 1

4. A cooling unit for refrigerating apparatus comprising a metallic sleeve for receiving a freezing tray, an open'top brine tank secured to the bottom of said sleeve, and a refrigerant conveying conduit having its initial portion disposed in the brine tank and another portion encircling the sleeve and brine tank.

5. A cooling unit for refrigerating apparatus comprising a metallic sleeve for receiving a freezing tray, a heat retaining means secured to the bottom of said sleeve, and a refrigerant conduit having its initial portion disposed within the confines of the heat retaining means, and another portion spaced from and encircling the sleeve and heat retaining means, said second named portion be-' ing so constructed and arranged as to pro-, vide a refrigerant conveying conduit in direct heat exchange relation with the air in the compartment to be cooled. 6. A cooling unit for refrigerating apparatus comprising a metallic sleeve for receiving a freezing tray, a heat retaining means secured to the bottom of said sleeve, and a refrigerant conduit having its initial portion disposed within the confines of the heat retaining means, and another portion spaced from and encircling the sleeve and heat retaining means, said second named portion comprising a coil, the successive convolutions of which are progressively increasing in diameter from the front to the back of the sleeve, and said second named portion providing a refrigerant conveying conduit in direct heat exchange relation with the air and the compartment to be cooled.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES C. SPREEN. 

